Heat leaves aviary birds ‘snookered’
TUCKED away in a little corner of Kilmacanogue, more than 1,000 birds are also struggling through the current heatwave.
Copsewood Aviaries is home to parrots, budgies, canaries, owls, swans, ducks, ravens and more, which live peacefully alongside monkeys, lemurs and even a few friendly dogs.
Ed Drew also provides a home for rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and other creatures great and small.
‘They’re snookered with the heat,’ he said.
So is he, to an extent, but drinking plenty of soft drinks throughout the day.
Ed works on film projects and just the other day enjoyed the benefits of air-conditioning in the van for most of it. Most of his menagerie just don’t like the heat, and are pretty grumpy about it.
‘They’re tired and lifeless, although the monkeys and lemurs are loving it,’ said Ed. ‘The dogs are just panned out.’
They have their own natural spring so water isn’t a problem. The birds and animals have plenty of water, and they get misted down with water two or three times a day as needed.
Their health isn’t at risk, but some of them, like some of us, are finding it a bit much.
Visitors can go to the pet shop and aviaries any Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.